WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 18) – The Vulcans scored five runs in the fifth inning of Game 2 on Tuesday afternoon to earn a doubleheader split against Notre Dame (Ohio) in non-conference action, suffering an 11-4 loss in Game 1 before rallying for a 5-3 victory in Game 2.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 17-17 overall while playing 20 games at home. Meanwhile, the Falcons stand at 11-27 this season.

In Game 1, Notre Dame scored in virtually every inning and belted four homers after entering play with just 11 homers this season. The Falcons took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second behind back-to-back homers from first baseman Angelo Tornatore and catcher Matt Seekins. Notre Dame then stretched its lead to 6-0 after scoring a pair of runs with two outs in the third before designated hitter Robert Williams added a solo homer in the fourth.

The Falcons added four runs in the top of the sixth behind a three-run homer from Seekins, his second of the game. In the bottom of the inning, senior Taylor Zackman (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) led off with a pinch-hit double and scored on a throwing error that allowed sophomore left fielder Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) to reach base and advance to second. Junior shortstop Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) then delivered an RBI triple to right-center field before NDC made a pitching change to a reliever that retired the next three hitters in order. The Falcons scored on a sacrifice fly in the seventh to make the score 11-2 before the Vulcans scored twice in the bottom of the inning. Zackman again started the inning with a double before scoring on a single by Fairman, who moved to third on the play following a fielding error. Following a walk, Fairman scored on a double play.

Fairman finished 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored while batting leadoff for the first time in his career. Krause and Zackman both finished with two hits and Zackman also scored two runs.

Junior starter Neil Dudley (Odenton, Md./Chesapeake) suffered the loss after surrendering five runs (all earned) on five hits in 3.0 innings. NDC starter Todd Marshall (1-0) earned the win after yielding two runs (one earned) on six hits in 4.0-plus innings (77 pitches). Falcon sophomore Andrew Raponi recorded the save after working 3.0 innings of relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits.

In Game 2, the Vulcans scored all five of their runs in the bottom of the fifth inning before forcing the Falcons to leave four runners on base over the last two innings. Sophomore designated hitter Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) was the lone player to post a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3.

NDC took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before adding two runs in the second inning after the initial three batters reached base via hits. The Falcons stranded runners on second and third in the top of the fifth before the Vulcans claimed the lead in the bottom of the inning. Junior shortstop Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) opened the inning with a single and advanced to third on singles by Zackman and Fairman. Following an infield fly for the second out, redshirt senior first baseman David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) delivered a two-run double down the right-field line before senior right fielder Chris Wastchak (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) belted the go-ahead, three-run homer – his fifth of the year.

The Falcons mounted a two-out rally in the sixth with a single and hit by pitch before a fielder's choice ended the inning. In the seventh, NDC posted back-to-back hits singles one out before Cal U made a pitching change to freshman Corey Fogle (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville). The Falcons then had runners on the corners following a deep fly-out before the runner at first moved into scoring position by stealing second base. With the tying run at second and the winning run at the plate, Fogle induced a ground-out to Krause to end the game.

Freshman Bradyn Kail (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) improved to 2-1 this season after tossing 2.1 innings of scoreless relief with two hits. Fogle recorded the save by retiring the only two batters he faced. NDC starter Hunter Kuzak (0-4) was saddled with the loss after yielding five runs (all earned) on eight hits in 5.0 innings (73 pitches).

Cal U returns to action on Friday, April 21, when it opens a divisional series against Slippery Rock with a road doubleheader at 1 p.m.